Wetlands International champions the role of ecosystems in water security during World Water Day 2013

March 22, 2013: On World Water Day 2013, water issues are more critical than ever, and affect everyone around the globe. The UN has proclaimed 2013 the International Year of Water Cooperation, and Wetlands International is doing its part to promote the role of wetland ecosystems as natural water infrastructure.

In conjunction with the World Water Day celebrations, Wetlands International participated in a high-level consultation on water in The Hague, The Netherlands. As part of the Post-2015 Development Agenda Global Thematic Consultations, this event brings together governments and civil society to discuss recommendations on improved cooperation to preserve water resources and protect the environment.

Wetlands International CEO Jane Madgwick chaired a roundtable discussion today as part of the event. The table participants included representatives from the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, the UN Convention of Biological Diversity, as well as governments (from water ministries) and civil society from Egypt, Bolivia, Austria, Ivory Coast and The Netherlands, active in delivering water and sanitation services. They agreed that addressing the ability of ecosystems to sustain and regulate water is urgent and fundamental to bringing about a step change in water security. A priority solution is to internalise the values of ecosystem services in water resource management decisions and management. Raising awareness and enabling dialogue among the variety of sectors and stakeholders involved is critical to make this happen, for example through knowledge-sharing platforms and clearing houses for exchanging information on the solutions that are already there and waiting to be upscaled and adopted.

Wetlands International has launched such a platform, with the kick-off of our Get the Solutions Flowing campaign with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the City of Rotterdam, which seeks to turn talk into action on the role of wetlands as natural water infrastructure.

Watch an interview with Jane Madgwick on WaterCouch.tv

Please join us in promoting and implementing concrete, cost-effective actions that bring the role of wetlands centre stage in managing our precious water resources.